Playground for practical listening exercises

[Charlie1]

Good idea.

I was just joking that beck might get a bit too close to an LP12 for my comfort.

[Spannko]

Here's an experiment replacing my Skeet with something else (which will be revealed later). Which is better?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wlgltqe97ireo ... 9.mov?dl=0
or
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vu7ewmmqkmyl5 ... 2.mov?dl=0

I have a strong preference for A (Skeet). To me, B (Gaia II) sounds very rhythmically disjointed which could be why you’re noticing that something isn’t quite right when you use them

[beck]

As time waits for nobody here comes one step further:


Before: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0xpxsgb4yiw8d ... 5.mov?dl=0


Now : https://www.dropbox.com/s/lf730d5bna8fi ... 2.mov?dl=0


Just sitting here now listening to cd’s I get goosebump moments...........

[OscarH]

beck,

Knowing how you actively seek integration at the expense of separation, I think I can hear why you are happy with ‘after’.

Wonder what you’ve tweaked this time?

[beck]

beck,

Knowing how you actively seek integration at the expense of separation, I think I can hear why you are happy with ‘after’.

Wonder what you’ve tweaked this time?

You are right OscarH. I almost always hear separation as going against natural musical timing.

I have stopped doing any more to the cd tray and are back at making small changes to the way the power cable vibrates experimenting with what it touches before entering the cd player.

[Charlie1]

Like Oscar, I can hear what like which is also something I value. However, I'm enjoying the 'before' clip a little more so for me it's losing something else valuable in the process.

[Spannko]

I prefer “before” too.

[beck]

I prefer “before” too.

Luckily, it only takes 3 sec to change back............................. :-)


I love the drive and the beat I get with the latest setup:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o51bkbsgx04q3 ... 7.mov?dl=0


Listening again today monday there is no doubt in my mind that my new setup does something special to me.
The music hits me emotionally in a way I have not been hit before listening to cd’s.

[Charlie1]

Well, it's certainly sounding groovy and I could have happily listened to more.

[Charlie1]

So I've been living with the Geddon LP12 and still perplexed as to what folks enjoy about it. I just can't see how an ARO and DV cartridge could fix it but I suppose I have to leave the door ajar to the possibility.

I also wanted to understand to what extend the SBLs were impacting the musicality so briefly tried the Lingo deck in the same system. I forgot to pre-warm the MM phono cards but otherwise, it's as fair as I could make it.

Track 1
Geddon/Ekos SE/Krystal: https://www.dropbox.com/s/id7cj983br4bz ... 1.MOV?dl=0
Lingo 1/Ekos 2/Adkit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2y2scbi0zhnjf ... 6.MOV?dl=0

Track 2
Geddon/Ekos SE/Krystal: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xufnfamdk5mau ... 2.MOV?dl=0
Lingo 1/Ekos 2/Adkit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ztcpqpg3u48i ... 7.MOV?dl=0

I suspect that SBLs are not my thing either cos even the Lingo deck is nothing special. And I wouldn't normally mix the 12 and CB160 so it's a bit bright with the Lingo deck in particular but there were practical reasons for that.

I'm not going down the unipivot route so I'll sell the Geddon and get another Lingo.

[Spannko]

This is a very different sound to your more recent offerings charlie1! I’ve got only a slight preference for the Lingo deck, which surprised me given your comments on what you’re hearing at home. I do wonder though, if the Geddon deck might become a bit of a musical bore after a while due to it not hanging together so well when the music gets more complex?

[beck]

I also suspect that the SBL’s are a bit “out of shape” like some of your Kan’s were Charlie1. Not much is needed to change to go from a great used pair of speakers to a medium quality pair.

I do prefer the lingo deck in these clips.

[Charlie1]

Thanks for the feedback - really useful.

I could put some Keilidhs or the rosewood Kans in there to rule out the SBL impact. However, the Geddon deck is already underperforming. This room has never sounded really good tbh. It's pretty much square so perhaps that doesn't help.

Thinking some Saras instead of SBLs would complete my vintage Linn speaker collection :)

With the Ekos deck back in the study, I'm playing that same album now and it's really enjoyable so not the recording or LP either.

[Charlie1]

So good to have members feedback.

You guys were right about the SBLs. I think the previous combination of Valhalla/Ittok and Nait had kind of hidden then untunefulness.

The Geddon deck definitely more palatable with Keilidhs.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ngl7delhmnj55 ... 9.MOV?dl=0

Still not hearing anything that's gonna rock my world and after hearing the Lingo deck in the study I know where my preferences are anyway.

[tokenbrit]

One is speaking my Lingo; the other one, I'm not Geddon it...
In the spirit of the Keilidhs, should we ask "how did it come to this bitter end?"

[Charlie1]

😄

It's all fixable.

[El Mero Mero]

Hello Charlie! Thank you for sharing the earlier clips of Naim vs Linn. Of these last clips i prefer the ones with the black LP12. Have you checked the rubber surrounds of the cones on your SBLs?

[Spannko]

Hello Charlie! Thank you for sharing the earlier clips of Naim vs Linn. Of these last clips i prefer the ones with the black LP12. Have you checked the rubber surrounds of the cones on your SBLs?

Good point.

Also, are the gaskets between the bass enclosure and its loading enclosure still airtight?

[Charlie1]

Thanks for the suggestions. The drivers and gaskets were all as they should be at my dealer's.

I've decided to sell them on anyway.

[OscarH]

So I've been living with the Geddon LP12 and still perplexed as to what folks enjoy about it. I just can't see how an ARO and DV cartridge could fix it but I suppose I have to leave the door ajar to the possibility.

I also wanted to understand to what extend the SBLs were impacting the musicality so briefly tried the Lingo deck in the same system. I forgot to pre-warm the MM phono cards but otherwise, it's as fair as I could make it.

Track 1
Geddon/Ekos SE/Krystal: https://www.dropbox.com/s/id7cj983br4bz ... 1.MOV?dl=0
Lingo 1/Ekos 2/Adkit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2y2scbi0zhnjf ... 6.MOV?dl=0

Track 2
Geddon/Ekos SE/Krystal: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xufnfamdk5mau ... 2.MOV?dl=0
Lingo 1/Ekos 2/Adkit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ztcpqpg3u48i ... 7.MOV?dl=0

I suspect that SBLs are not my thing either cos even the Lingo deck is nothing special. And I wouldn't normally mix the 12 and CB160 so it's a bit bright with the Lingo deck in particular but there were practical reasons for that.

I'm not going down the unipivot route so I'll sell the Geddon and get another Lingo.

Prefer the Lingo on track 1, honestly couldn’t tell on track 2.

You seem convinced so I assume there’s more of a difference in the room.

[Mikeg]

Clear preference for the Lingo 1 deck Charlie.

The thing with SBL's is that in many ways they are like the LP12, setup is everything. I have had Kans, Keliedhs and now SBLs. Setup properly SBLs are very good.

Like Linn, Naim's instructions were that bolts and spikes should be 'very tight' - not so, correct torque is important.

I have found that key areas to get to get the SBLs singing include:

Setup in-situ and not moved
Torque on tweeter strut
Interface between base/mid cabinet and lower box
Correct grills (not most available on the internet)
Crossover not attached to speaker

Julian Vereker reckoned that "at least 50% of SBL users or tryers are not listening to
them at remotely their full potential"

[Charlie1]

Thanks Mike - perhaps the motivation will return to play around with the SBLs since I can't really sell them at the moment due to lockdown. If so, then your post will be very helpful.

TBH, I've lost confidence in Naim post the split with Linn. I've not heard anything that I really like, other than a Nait 2 but that was left largely alone although it's not as tuneful as the Nait 1 so they even messed that up. I've not heard all that much modern kit but none of it more enjoyable than the chrome bumper stuff. It's as if Julian found a good design and had similar ears to us here but everyone else had other priorities which don't really do it for me.

[Mikeg]

My Naim stuff is all pretty much JV era and serviced. Never had any recent gear at home, only heard at Shows so can't really tell how they compare.

You mentioned about dealer setup earlier. Did they setup your SBLs at home?

Just came across this comment by JV:

"SBLs should be sited, leveled, and then assembled - it is VERY unlikely that they will work properly if moved AT ALL after assembly"

and

" There are ways of moving the speakers without jolting them at all using a specially designed 'lifter', which is how we do it in the factory, but I was trying to draw attention to the fact that every movement degrades the performance.

As far as our dealers are concerned - 'one can take a horse to water, but one cannot make it drink.'"

[beck]

Just came across this comment by JV:

"SBLs should be sited, leveled, and then assembled - it is VERY unlikely that they will work properly if moved AT ALL after assembly"

So telling that what we seek here demands the outmost care and attention to detail as with the SBL’s.

[Charlie1]

I've looked into some more and spoken to my dealer. I do t think my heart is really in t
It. I did check the bass units and they return to position smoothly and slightly slowly when pushed in and let go. Thanks again though Mike.